Cougar Pitching Shuts Down WCU, 6-2, To Earn Series Win

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Led by an outstanding outing from starter Matt Pegler, the Cougar pitching staff held down Western Carolina to help CofC to a 6-2 win in the rubber game of the series.

College of Charleston (31-13, 19-8) picked up the team's third straight series win against conference opponents to keep the Cougars in second place in the SoCon. Western Carolina fell to 27-17 and 11-10 in conference play.

Pegler (7-2) picked up his seventh win of the season as he went 5.1 IP, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out six batters. The righty did not allow a Catamount hit until the fourth inning. Pegler lowered his season ERA to 2.83 with the victory.

In his first appearance of the 2012 season, junior Jake Zokan came in from the bullpen in the sixth inning to get Pegler out of a jam with runners on second and third with one out. Zokan induced two groundouts to get out of the inning, allowing just one run to score.

Seniors Kyle Owings and David Peterson came in and closed the door on the Catamounts, giving up just one unearned run in the ninth inning, while combining for three strikeouts.

Tyler Jackson had a big day at the plate, launching his second home run in as many games, this one a solo shot in the first inning. Brandon Glazer also tallied two hits and scored a run. Daniel Aldrich went 1-of-2 at the plate with two walks and a run scored.

WCU starter Jeremy Null (4-2) pitched six innings and struck out eight, but his efforts weren't enough as he was tagged with the loss. Cody Jones led the Catamounts at the plate with a 3-for-5 day, driving in one run.

College of Charleston got on the board in the first inning with the solo home run from Jackson that curved around the right field foul pole. The Cougars added another run in the second frame as Glazer singled and advanced on a fielding error and then Jimmy Holton hit a two-out single to left for his seventh RBI of the season.

Both pitchers worked efficiently until the sixth inning when the Catamounts opened the frame with back-to-back singles from Ross Heffley and Jones. A sacrifice bunt from Tyler White advanced the runners and Jacob Hoyle picked up an RBI with a groundout to first that made it 2-1.

The Cougars took the run back in the seventh inning with leadoff singles from Bradley Goodson and Glazer. A double-play ball scored Goodson from third to put the Cougars up 3-1.

College of Charleston put the game away in the top of the ninth inning when Daniel Aldrich singled and Rob Harding was hit by a pitch. WCU pitcher Preston Hatcher then fielded a Goodson bunt attempt and threw the ball over the third baseman, allowing Aldrich and Harding to score. A sacrifice fly to left from Gunnar Heidt eventually scored Goodson and the Cougars led 6-1.

Western Carolina added an unearned run in the ninth inning, but Peterson induced a groundout from White with the bases loaded to end the game.

The Cougars will travel to Clemson for a non-conference weekend series starting next Saturday, May 5.